Flexible and resilient beaded strip and method of manufacturing the same



March 26, 1940.

FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT BEADED STRIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME 7 Filed March 10, 19.3"! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY. 5

March 26, 1940. v..- A, BE T 2,195,046

FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT BEADED STRIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1937 INVENTOR.

Frankflbesf MMpW ATTORNEY S Patented Mar. 26, 194i) FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT BEADED STRIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Frank A. Best, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Application March 10, 1937, Serial No.- 130,188

7 Claims.

The invention relates to the manufacture of flexible strips primarily designed for use as a cushion or sealing means between adjacent members of a mechanical structure. It is the object of the invention, first, to obtain a construction of strip capable of application to various mechanical structures and of being securely attached thereto; second, toobtainan exceedingly durable construction which will continue to function after 3 long service, and third, to' provide a high degree of resiliency in the cushioning portion of the strip. With these objects in view, the invention consists, first, in the peculiar construction of the strip; and second, in the method of manufacturing the same.

In the drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section illustrating the manner of impregnating the web fabric with an adhesive; Figure 2 illustrates the manner of splitting the tube from which the bead is formed;

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the tube, respectively before and after splitting;

Figure 6 is a plan view of an apparatus for assembling the web and bead;

Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are cross sections respectively on lines 1l, 88, 9-9, Ill-l0, ll-ll, |2l2, l3-'-l3 and l4'll of Figure 6;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the completed beaded strip cut away to show the construction thereof;

'Figure 16 is a cross section of the strip;

Figure 17 is a plan view of the wire reinforcement; 7 f

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16 showing a modified construction;

Figure 19 is a cross section showing my improved strip as used for sealing the joint between the door and body of an automobile.

Generally described, my improved product comprises a flexible web and a resilient bead extending along one edge thereof and securely attached thereto. The function of the web is for attachment to the structure on which the strip is mounted and, therefore, it is essential that it should have a high degree of strength and should be firmly attached to the head portion. The function of the bead is to form a cushioned seat for the cooperating member of the mechanical structure which requires a high degree of resiliency. I have, therefore, devised a constructoin and a method through which a product having these desired characteristics is obtained and can be easily manufactured at comparatively low cost.

The web portion of my improved strip is preferably formed of a fabric having the warp threads thereof extending longitudinally of the strip and the woof threads formed of metal wire. The bead is preferably formed of tubing of resilient material, such as rubber, although it may be formed of a solid section of high resilient material, such as sponge rubber. Attachment between the bead and web is accomplished by first splitting the former on one side thereof for the insertion of a portion of the web therein; second, covering the bead with an outer layer of felt or equivalent material; and third, covering both the bead and the web with a looped fabric strip extending continuously around on both sides thereof.

The wire reinforcement forming the woof strands of the web is preferably continuous, including parallel contacting strands A and A connected at one end by circular loops A in a plane transverse to the web and at their opposite ends by loops or return-bends A in the plane of the web. The portions A and A are interwoven with groups of warp strands B which together form a web of a width equal to the length of said strands A, A. C is a resilient flexible tube, preferably of rubber, which is split through one side thereof for the passage ofthe web and with the loops A inside the tube adjacent to the inner surface thereof. D is a strip of felt which surrounds the tube C and with its opposite edges contacting with the web. E is a covering fabric which extends over the web around the portion D and under the web, being secured thereto by adhesive material.

M ethod. of manufacture The method of forming the product includes the following steps:

The tube C is first split through one side thereof, preferably as shown in Figures 2 and 3, in which G is a roller having in the central plane thereof a circular splitting knife G, and H is a groove roller, the flanges H of which embrace the roller G. The dimension between the flanges H is such as to receive the rubber tube C when flattened down with the opposite sides thereof in contact, and the knife G projects radially beyond the roller G a sufflcient distance to split the one side of the tube without cutting the other side thereof. Thus, by feeding the seamless tube C, Figure 4, between these rollers G and H, it will be split on the one side, as indicated at C, Figure 5.

The metal reinforced web previously described guides K and K, Figure 7, so arranged that the sides of the tube C are spread apart, and the loops A of the metal reinforcement are arranged between said sides. The web and tube then pass together through a guide L, Figure 8, which presses the sides of the tube C together, surrounding the loops A. A felt strip D and a fabric cover strip E are then fed through a segmental guide member 0 to centrally contact with the tube C, said guide 0 being progressively changed in cross section, asdndicated at 0 and 0, Figures 10 and 11. This wraps the felt strip D about the outer face of the tube 0 and the cover strip E around the felt. All of these members then pass between rollers P and P', Figure 12, which press the cover strip and the felt into close contact with the tube C, and also press the portions of the strip E in contact with the latex impregnated web. This will cause an adhesion between thecover and the web, fashioning the product as illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. Thus, the completed product will have its web portion reinforced by the wire fabric, the loops A of which are so engaged with the tube C that even if the outer covering E should be worn away, these two parts will be held in engagement with each other.

As a modification I may substitute for the tube C a solid core Q of sponge rubber or equivalent highly resilient compressible material, this core being split at Q to receive a portion of the wire reinforced web. With this construction the loops A of the wire reinforcement are omitted, otherwise the construction is the same as previously described.

While I have described the strip D as formed of felt, various other materials may be adapted for the same purpose. It is only essential that it should be of such characteras to form a soft cushion between the harder rubber and the outer covering.

The wire reinforcement may, if desired, dispense with the warp strands B using only the portions A, A and return-bends A for forming the web, while the circular loops A reinforce the bead. Such a construction is shown at the left hand end of Figure 15.

In Figure 19 one use of my improvement illustrated, viz: its application to sealing the joint between the door and body of an automobile. Thus as illustrated, S is the door and R the body. The web is attached to the inside of the body with the bead projecting so as to seal the crevice between the body and door. My improved construction is also particularly well adapted for.

passing around curves, as for instance the rounded corner of a door. This is for the reason that the portions A, A of the metal reinforcement ,may assume a, more or iessradial arrangement with respect to each other, while the loops A are held in the same planes.

What I claim as myinvention is:

1. A flexible strip comprising, a wire reinforced woven web, a resilient bead open on one side to receive a portion of said web, a soft felted cushion strip surrounding said bead with ends abutting circular loops in the wire reinforcement at one side of said web and turned into planes transverse to the plane of the web, a resilient tube open on one side to embrace said loops and a portion of said web, av felted cushion strip surrounding said tube, and a fabric cover surrounding said cushion strip and extending on opposite sides of said web being cemented to the latter.

3. The method of forming a flexible and resilient beaded strip comprising the forming of a wire reinforced woven web, impregnating said web with an adhesive, splitting a resilient bead from one side thereof, inserting said web in the split, positioning a soft felted cushion material surrounding said bead with its ends abutting said web and covering said felted material and both sides of said web with a fabric strip continuous in cross section and secured to said web by said adhesive.

4. The method of progressively forming a flexible and resilient beaded strip comprising, splitting a resilient bead through one side thereof, guiding a wire reinforced adhesive impregnated woven fabric to position a portion thereof in engaging relation with the split in said bead, guiding a strip of soft felted cushioning material longi-v tudinally on said bead to surround said bead on opposite sides of said web, guiding a cover strip to position the strip around said bead and both sides of said web, and pressing the portions against said web to secure the same thereto by the adhesive. I

5. The method of forming a flexible and resilient beaded strip comprising, forming a wire reinforced web with. circular loops in the wire at one edge of the web and in planes'transverse thereto, impregnating saidweb with latex, simultaneously feeding said impregnated web, split resilient tubing, a felted cushion strip and a 1 covering strip through guides to engage said tube with the circular wire loops with the web extending through the split with said felt encircling said tube with its opposite edges abutting against said web and said covering strip encircling said felt and extending on opposite sides of said web, and passing said strip through rolls to press the parts together and secure the covering strip by said adhesive. I

6. A flexible strip comprising: a wire reinforced woven web, said web having a flat portion, and having a series of wire loops along one edge of said web turned into planes transverse to that of the web; a tube of resilient material open at one side and embracing said loops and an adjacent part of the flat portion of said web; a felted cushion strip surrounding said tube; and a fabric cover surrounding said cushion strip, extending on opposite sides of said web, and being cemented thereto.

7. A flexible strip having a hollow bead along one edge comprising a wire reinforced woven web, the wire reinforcement comprising paired,'parallel portions formed at one end into loops turned into planes transverse to the plane of the web, said loops defining a hollow tubular core, a -tube of resilient material open on one side'and embracing said loops, and a cover fabric surrounding said tube and cemented to opposite sides of said web, said tubular core being hollow from end.

to end and providing a flexible foundation for said hollow bead.

' FRANK A. BEST. 

